Dirty Tackle

Lionel Messi’s superb winner to finish off a hat trick in friendly against Brazil

While the Euro 2012 Group of Death lived up to its name for mostly unintended reasons, Brazil and Argentina played out a frantic friendly in New Jersey and Lionel Messi once again proved worthy of a dictionary full of superlatives.

Being a friendly, the match obviously didn't carry any tangible importance and included some players who probably wouldn't be out there if it did, but there simply is no such thing as a Brazil v Argentina match that isn't Apocalyptic in tone. Argentina's Ezequiel Lavezzi and Brazil's Marcelo were both sent off in added time for a scuffle, but before that, Lionel Messi ran riot.

Scoring three goals including the 85th minute winner he blasted into the top corner (above), Messi led Argentina past Brazil in a match that went back and forth before ending 4-3. And though Neymar played well, Pele's pick for the man better than Messi didn't score.